[Tony21]

Nervous going through 30mph speed cameras.


So I had this problem since I passed my driving test. I been driving for over 10 years. When ever I go through a speed camera I get nervous. What I normally do is when I am about to approach the speed camera. I get down to 20mph. Sometimes under 20mph. Then I start saying in my head “Under 20 under 20 under 20 under 20” then I keep saying “20 20 20 20” I also keep checking the speedometer.


When I get home. I think to myself was I doing the right speed. This really affects my mental health sometimes.


Some of you may laugh. But this really bugs me sometime.


Has anyone else got this problem ???
What do you do when you approach a 30mph speed camera ???


I have never ever broken a law in my life lol. I have never ever got a speeding ticket. Touch wood.


Any tips or advice ????

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by Tony21

I have never ever broken a law in my life lol. I have never ever got a speeding ticket. Touch wood.


Any tips or advice ????

You have. The law prohibits careless or inconsiderate driving. What you describe is both.

It "falls below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver" (which is the definition of careless driving), and it also inconveniences other road users (inconsiderate)..

I would suggest a few refresher lessons to boost your confidence.

(2)

[TC1474]

As already suggested, it sounds like you need to get out with a driving instructor (or better still sign up to an advanced course) to help you develop your skills for the simple reason that again as mentioned, you commit the offence of "Careless driving" which is split into 2 sections, "Driving without Due Care and Attention" and "Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users" You are guilty of both offences particularly if there is traffic behind you.

Just keep it at 30. Your speedo will be reading slightly fast anyway (they always do) and the cameras allow for a 10% margin of error, so you would have to be doing a minimum of 33 before you triggered the camera and in most areas 35 is the threshold so you have more wiggle room than you realise.

On top of that you are also likely to cause road rage by other road users because of your behaviour. It should not happen but it does.

So get yourself on a course and correct the problem and make yourself a better driver!

[Drivingforfun]

What you describe sounds like irrational fear to me and something a professional should help you with if it's something that genuinely affects your mental health and you weren't using the phrase as a throwaway remark

Aside from the possible lack of understanding towards what could well be a genuine problem (as if you're driving like that for fun!), I agree with everything that has already been said with regards to likelihood of anything happening and addressing the problem

All I would add is I've met lots of people with irrational anxiety and it's often helped them to consider the worst case scenario and balancing even a massively inflated likelihood of this happening with the benefits from ceasing worrying about it... In your case, is it the end of the world if you did set off a speed camera?

If you aim for 30mph rather than 20mph, even accounting for lapses of concentration, you're not likely to set off a camera even every 10 years, but even if you did, resigning yourself to a £100 fine and not worrying for that 10 years is probably worth it!! 👍

[olduser]

I think I can understand what you are trying to do but it doe's raise some questions.

If you are not sure of the speed limit, then you need to work on your observation, what was the last speed sign passed?
If this is the problem, this suggests your powers of observation are not very good.
One way of helping to develop this is to give yourself a running commentary as you drive along, have a look on You Tube there is a video that gives a good explanation, and demonstration.
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...+while+driving

If you don't trust the technology, think of it this way, if the speed camera is faulty, what speed is it going to trigger at?
If it is faulty, then who knows?
You might as well drive past at the speed limit or a speed appropriate to the conditions, and that is what the majority of other drivers will expect you to do.

Most fixed speed cameras, will be checking the speed electronically, and physically.
There will be a pattern of paint lines on the road which will be included in the photographs produced by the camera, by knowing the time between the photographs the distance covered in the time between pictures can be measured, from this the actual speed can be calculated.

The other fixed camera type has two sensors in the road, and the camera measures the time taken between sensors to arrive at speed.
As you can see the risks of error are quite small.

Finally, if you were to be mistakenly caught speeding for the first time, life will not end, you will get a fine and points on your licence.
The problems only start if you repeatedly offend.

[TC1474]

Originally Posted by olduser

The other fixed camera type has two sensors in the road, and the camera measures the time taken between sensors to arrive at speed.
As you can see the risks of error are quite small.

.

They are called Truvello Camera's. Cables are set at 1.55m apart and measure the time it takes for the front wheels to cross over the cables. At 1.55m apart they are actually working in favour of the motorists.

The painted lines on the fixed camera sites are called calibration marks and allows the court to exactly measure time over distance in the event of a not guilty plea an d it goes to court.

But more specifically, if there is a question mark or doubt over the camera, such as not functioning correctly, or another vehicle could me mistaken as the offender or in the case of a Motorway a vehicle is overtaking and there is doubt as to who the offender is, then no prosecution will take place for fear of it being classified as an unsafe conviction and the motorist will be given the benefit of the doubt.

[NMNeil]

Originally Posted by Beelzebub

You have. The law prohibits careless or inconsiderate driving. What you describe is both.

It "falls below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver" (which is the definition of careless driving), and it also inconveniences other road users (inconsiderate)..

I would suggest a few refresher lessons to boost your confidence.

(2)

How is driving within the speed limit careless or inconsiderate?
Highway Code Rule 125 "The speed limit is the absolute maximum and does not mean it is safe to drive at that speed irrespective of conditions."

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by NMNeil

How is driving within the speed limit careless or inconsiderate?
Highway Code Rule 125 "The speed limit is the absolute maximum and does not mean it is safe to drive at that speed irrespective of conditions."

As TC1474 explained above 'as mentioned, you commit the offence of "Careless driving" which is split into 2 sections, "Driving without Due Care and Attention" and "Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users" You are guilty of both offences particularly if there is traffic behind you.'

"Careless" is defined in law as a standard of driving which falls "below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver." A competent and careful driver does not drive at 20 mph in a 30 limit (always assuming that it is otherwise safe), and would certainly fail a driving test.

Causing following drivers to slow unnecessarily is self-evidently inconsiderate.

As a matter of interest, how would this be viewed in New Mexico?